Contents |
Description
It's a tool provided by ASCII Corporation with MSX-DOS 2.
You can use it with COMMAND2.COM versions 2.2x, 2.3x and 2.4x.
Command
Effect
Sets or resets a Kanji text mode. A MSX2+ or higher is normally required, but you can also use a MSX2 with cartridges adding Kanji BASIC and a Kanji-ROM.
KMODE can also update the boot section of the disk to make automatic the installation of the Kanji driver (required before switching to a Kanji mode).
Note: Alternatively, you can install the Kanji driver in MSX-BASIC with CALL KANJI before switching to the MSX-DOS environment.
Syntaxes
- KMODE <KanjiMode> /S <Device>:
- KMODE OFF
Parameters
<KanjiMode> is a number between 0 and 3 to specify the Kanji mode. Contrary to the MSX-BASIC instruction CALL KANJI, you must always specify the Kanji mode and there must be a space between KMODE and the <KanjiMode>.
| Kanji mode | Characters / Kanji size | Columns | Colors | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 8 x 16 / 16 x 16 | 26-64 | 16 of 512 RGB | Characters from Kanji-ROM are displayed as is |
| 1 | 6 x 16 / 12 x 16 | 26-80 | 16 of 512 RGB | Characters are reduced to be displayed except with Kanji-ROM from Panasonic that has 12 bit font |
| 2 | 8 x 16 / 16 x 16 | 26-64 | 16 of 512 RGB | Same as Kanji mode 0 but in screen mode interlaced |
| 3 | 6 x 16 / 12 x 16 | 26-80 | 16 of 512 RGB | Same as Kanji mode 1 but in screen mode interlaced |
Displayable characters and used graphic screen mode depend from the value entered with the command MODE. Used screen mode is screen 5 or 7. The screen mode switches when the value passes from one half to the other (<33 or <41 = screen 5, >32 or >40 = screen 7).
/S is used to change the boot section of the disk into a 'Kanji Boot'. A message precises that after execution, the disk will only be able to boot MSX-DOS 2 and asks to press a key to continue.
<Device> is the name for used device. It can only be a disk drive.
If you don't specify the drive, the computer will change the boot of the currently active drive (by default, it's drive A:)
| Device type | Device name | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Disk drive | A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H | A floppy disk interface can control until 2 drives. |
OFF must be used alone to exit a Kanji text mode.
Examples
A>KMODE 3
A>KMODE /S B:
Related to
Environment
- MSX2+ or higher (also MSX2 extended with cartridges adding Kanji BASIC and Kanji-ROM)
- MSX-DOS 2 / Nextor